“GOLD STANDARD” is a series that highlights the thoughts and perspectives of our coaches and players as we continue to look through their own eyes to learn what it is like to play professional sports. Throughout this series we introduce you to the on-court struggles and the grueling off-court work regimen of the players. In addition, we offer you a peek behind the scenes, highlights of the King’s basketball philosophy and much more!
Vol.5 is an interview with our new member #1 Seiya Funyu. Funyu attended Aoyama Gakuin University, leaving during his third year to join Aisin Seahorse Mikawa (now Seahorses Mikawa) to begin his professional career ahead of many competitors of the same age. Afterwards, he moved to Nagoya Diamond Dolphins and Toyama Grouses. This season he has signed with the Kings. In this interview we will discuss the innate determination that fuels his desire to play professional basketball in Okinawa as well as what the transition to a new environment has been like for him.
Unusual Offseason
Last season, the league ended unexpectedly and much earlier than usual. This gave us a few extra months of offseason. At the time, I had not yet decided which team I would commit to for the upcoming season. Rather than stressing about it, I decided to stay positive and take some extra time to think through a lot of things. I even purchased a whiteboard to put on my wall in order to write down and help organize my thoughts.
In my hometown of Fukushima, my family runs a kindergarten and my father coaches junior basketball. Every time I return home, I interact with the kindergarten children and help my father coach. Partly because of this, I am interested in childhood education and development for this age group and how I can connect with children to help them grow and mature.
Meanwhile, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, measures to suspend sports-related national competitions have sprung up one after another and it has made me think about the fact that the graduating junior high school and high school student athletes did not have a chance to participate in final competitions. In Fukushima, there is an excellent graduating high school player who lost the opportunity to appeal to universities due to the cancellation of the national competition. Even though he was a strong university level player, some universities did not reach out to him. I have interacted with this student in junior basketball before, so I felt a sense of responsibility to help him. He said to me, “I want to have the experience of playing basketball at a higher level in America.” I really respected his strong will and I wanted to help him achieve his goal. I know I might not be able to help everyone, but I want to help as many children as possible. This is something that I will continue to value.
Relationship with Okinawa
I have been to Okinawa several times and I really enjoy it! When I was in high school, I played at Okinawa City Gym and I remember not being able to sleep because I had so much adrenaline after playing and beating Rakunan High School. I also unexpectedly met # 24 Naoki Tashiro at the theme park, Ryukyu Mura on our school trip to Okinawa.
Whenever I played against the Kings in Okinawa, I always felt that the energy and enthusiasm from Kings fans were very impressive. I still vividly remember the third game of the 2017-18 season championship when we lost to the Kings. I was sitting on the bench the whole game and watching as #51 Takatoshi Furukawa (now Akita Northern Happinets), continued to sink shots that decided the game and put an end to our season. I will never forget those final moments of our last game in the 2017-18 season. Since that time, I realized that Kings fans have a strong passion for basketball, and I knew that one day I wanted to play for this team and these fans.
New Season Enthusiasm
I have lived in Okinawa for about a month now and begun to train and work out with my new teammates and coaches. So far, my transition to the Kings has been a very fulfilling basketball experience. This season I will challenge for the point guard position and I am currently doing practice matchups with #3 Narito Namizato and #14 Ryuichi Kishimoto. I am constantly learning ways to do things better or differently. I am really impressed with Namizato who has an image of offensive speed and effective passing which make him more difficult to guard. Despite our height difference of about 20 cm, his defense is strong and difficult to penetrate.
In addition to these two players, #0 Takumi Ishizaki is an excellent guard and shows his strength of playing style without a lot of height or ego. My own height increased to 194cm (195 cm with my basketball shoes) during this offseason. There are only a few players in the league that have a point guard who is more than 190 cm so I think I can contribute more to the team just by taking advantage of my height to defend against the opponent’s point guard from anywhere on the court. I must avoid my tendency of becoming too passive in my style whenever I pay too much attention to my teammates. I can improve my effectiveness as a point guard by thinking collectively. Head Coach Fujita is aiming for a style that focuses on the team offense and we are now working on better ways to share the ball.
I would like to express my gratitude to former Assistant Coach Toyama who helped me in Nagoya and to Head Coach Fujita who reached out to me during the offseason. Now that I am in a new environment with the Kings and I am able to challenge a new position, I am eager to play basketball more than ever! I really think that this is an opportunity like no other and I know that if there is any place I want to work hard at basketball, it is definitely here and now with the Kings.
This season, even if it's held with no audience, I will play hard so that I can convey something to those who see and support me. To that end, I will do my best to prepare for opening day and I look forward to being able to play for everyone in Okinawa.
